Life Path, Level Nine

"Martial Soul: Life Blue Silver Grass (E-grade)"

"Please select a cultivation path: 1. Life, 2. Poison, 3. Sharpness, 4. Toughness, 5. Deep Tilling."

Wang Xian stared at the five options that had appeared, understanding dawning in his eyes.

"It seems that the traits I fuse into my martial soul can all become directions for the future growth of Blue Silver Grass."

After looking over the five options, Wang Xian quickly made his decision. He still chose vitality as his cultivation path.

Not only because Life was the origin of the Blue Silver Grass martial soul, but also because Life was the strongest and most wide-ranging of these paths.

The other paths, whether Poison, Sharpness, or Toughness, were all singular directions. They could not compare to the comprehensive path of Life.

"I choose the Life path. Begin cultivation."

"Cultivation path selected."

"Martial Soul Cultivation Chamber: Blue Silver Grass (cultivating)."

"Martial soul quality: E-grade to D-grade (1%). Estimated completion time: three days."

"Martial soul cultivation path: Life."

"It still takes three days? So only cultivating the Weapon Form requires more time, while the other cultivations proceed normally?"

Seeing that the martial soul cultivation only required three days, Wang Xian could not help but speculate.

But that was good too. In only three days, he could improve his martial soul and Soul Power more quickly.

In five months, his Soul Power had risen by about one level. That was considered the normal cultivation speed for someone with Innate Soul Power at level five.

After his martial soul was cultivated, his Soul Power would surely increase again. Last time, it had directly raised his Soul Power by two levels.

If this time it could also raise his Soul Power by two levels, then level ten would not be far away.

Of course, he could not rely entirely on the Soul Power brought by martial soul upgrades. He still needed to continue cultivating during this time.

Three days passed quickly. To avoid causing too much of a disturbance after his martial soul cultivation was complete, Wang Xian left the dormitory and returned to the Back Mountain.

Not long after arriving at the Back Mountain, the system notification sounded in his mind.

"Martial soul cultivation complete."

A translucent light screen automatically unfolded before him, revealing a new panel.

"Life Blue Silver Grass (E-grade) → Life Blue Silver Grass+ (D-grade)."

"Martial Soul Cultivation System."

"Host: Wang Xian."

"Age: Six."

"Soul Power: Level 9."

"Martial soul quality: D-grade (Mid-Tier Martial Soul)."

"Martial soul Cultivation Points: 70."

"Martial Soul Cultivation Chamber: Place a martial soul inside. Spend Cultivation Points to cultivate the martial soul. (Cultivation attempts: 0. 10,000 Cultivation Points required for the next cultivation.)"

Wang Xian's gaze swept across the panel, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw the Soul Power section.

Level nine.

The previous cultivation had directly raised his Soul Power by two levels. This time, it had actually increased by three.

He had jumped from level six to level nine. Only one step remained before level ten.

"As expected, the next cultivation requires ten thousand points." Wang Xian looked at the number, which had increased tenfold again, his expression remaining fairly calm.

But he could not help feeling somewhat disappointed, because there was no way he could gather enough Cultivation Points in a short time.

However, this was not the time to think about that. What concerned him more was the change in the martial soul itself.

Wang Xian spread open his right hand and activated his Soul Power.

A dark teal glow surged from his palm, and Blue Silver Grass slowly emerged.

This change was even more obvious than the last one.

The grass leaves were nearly twice as thick as before. The originally slender blades had become broad and sturdy, and he could feel their weight in his hand.

Their color had changed from dark teal to a deeper blue-green, like ancient trees soaked by rain deep within an old forest, carrying a heavy aura of life.

Those silver patterns were still there, but they were no longer scattered across the leaf surfaces as they had been before.

Instead, they had gathered into clear main veins that extended from the roots to the tips, like channels carrying nutrients.

At the points where the patterns intersected, the dark golden sheen was brighter than before. It occasionally flickered, as if something were flowing within.

The serrations along the leaf edges had become finer and denser, but they no longer flared outward like before. Instead, they curled slightly inward, appearing far more restrained.

Wang Xian lightly touched one with his finger. His skin was not cut, but he could feel the serrations trembling faintly beneath his fingertip, as though they were alive.

The most obvious change was the layer of light covering the leaf surfaces.

Previously, it had only been a thin sheen. Now, it had become a tangible membrane.

It felt smooth and slightly warm to the touch. Rather than a plant, it felt more like the skin of some living creature.

Wang Xian pinched a leaf and tugged hard.

The blade tightened without moving in the slightest, then immediately sprang back after he released it.

With a thought, several strands of Blue Silver Grass extended from his palm and wrapped around a nearby small tree as thick as a bowl.

He did not tighten them right away. He merely loosely looped them around the tree twice before activating his Soul Power.

The Blue Silver Grass began to slowly tighten. Unlike before, the process was utterly silent.

There was no creaking sound. Only the light membrane on the grass leaves glowed faintly.

The small tree's trunk began to cave in. It was not the indentation caused by constriction, but rather as though something had drained the moisture from within, causing it to slowly shrivel.

The bark visibly wrinkled and became brittle. Within a few breaths, the wrapped section had sunk inward nearly a finger's depth.

Wang Xian released the Blue Silver Grass and reached out to touch the constriction mark.

The dried bark crumbled at the slightest touch, exposing grayish-white wood beneath. It felt dry and hard, like deadwood that had been scorched beneath the sun for months.

Seeing how drastically the tree had changed, Wang Xian revealed a surprised expression. This was completely different from before.

Previously, he had used the Sharpness of Blue Silver Grass to continuously damage the tree.

"But now, it seems to have drained the tree's moisture and life force."

"Draining moisture and life force?" Wang Xian's expression became somewhat complicated.

There was no doubt that this ability was extremely powerful, but if others discovered it, he could easily be branded a Fallen Soul Master.

Wang Xian withdrew the Blue Silver Grass into his palm, then summoned it again and carefully sensed his martial soul.

He poured out Soul Power while controlling his martial soul with his mind.

The next instant, those sharp serrations that had originally been restrained suddenly spread open, becoming fierce and jagged once more.

Under Wang Xian's control, the Blue Silver Grass shot forward and directly bound a large tree ahead. The instant it touched the tree, its sharp serrations embedded themselves into the trunk.

Then, under the effect of Deep Tilling, it began tearing through the trunk at extreme speed. Just as the tree was about to fall, Wang Xian immediately withdrew the Blue Silver Grass.

Looking at the Blue Silver Grass in his hand, Wang Xian's eyes lit up.

So there are two forms. I should use the form that can absorb life force and moisture less often in front of others.

After sensing his Soul Power, he clenched his fist, feeling the greater abundance of Soul Power within him as the corners of his mouth slowly rose.

Level nine. Only one step remained before level ten.